Doornkloof, Northern Gauteng
It is interesting, when you start tracing its roots, to realise that this part of northern Johannesburg, known as Centurion, has its heritage steeped in history despite being modern.
Lying between Pretoria and Midrand it once had not only its own town council and municipality but was also distinguishable as a separate entity from the two major cities.
Today Centurion, of which Doornkloof is part, seamlessly forms a bridge between Pretoria and Midrand. Lying at the intersection of the N1 and N14 highways all of this activity used to be three large farms, settled in 1841 – Zwartkop, Doornkloof and Brakfontein.
Doornkloof derives its name directly from these farms, as do the suburbs Erasmia, Elardus Park and Zwartkop. In 1889 Alois Hugo Nelmapius was to buy the northern and north-eastern parts of Doornkloof Farm and name it after his daughter, Irene, who died only in 1961 – alive to witness a further suburb named after her.
Doornkloof lies just south of Irene. In 1962 it combined with Irene and Lyttelton to form a city council known as Lyttelton, renamed Verwoerdburg in 1967 and changed to a more politically neutral Centurion in 1995.
A stay here is convenient for its access to OR Tambo International Airport, Pretoria and Johannesburg. Centurion and Midrand are regarded as business hubs in their own right and with the traffic congestion of Johannesburg as notorious as it is, a stay in Doornkloof is logical if business is your intention.
Even if it isn't, Irene and Doornkloof still remain slightly rural, despite the rapid growth of the area from sleepy smallholdings to thriving suburban residential areas. Pay a visit to Irene's Country Farm, where you can buy fresh milk, cheese and cream as well as sit down to a welcome tea, and you'll get the picture.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options


Premier Hotel Cullinan
The Premier Hotel Cullinan is a historical landmark offering hotel accommodation in16 en-suites each individual decorated with a luxury old world...

Mela Luxury Game Lodge
Mela Luxury Game Lodge presents an assortment of accommodation choices, encompassing climate-controlled safari suites, distinctive stone-crowned ...

Meadowbrook Guesthouse
Meadowbrook Guesthouse in Pretoria offers modern guest house rooms. Meadowbrook Accommodation is easily accessible from the N1 highway in a quiet...

The Rasmus
The Rasmus is a luxury Pretoria guest house on a 20 hectare working farm in town. Enter a world of tranquility only a heartbeat away from all tha...

Unitas Guesthouse
Unitas Guesthouse offers accommodation in Centurion, between Johannesburg and Pretoria. The location is ideal for easy access to either city whil...

Sable Hills Lodge
Nestled on the banks of the Roodeplaat Dam, surrounded by free-roaming game in the secure Waterfront Estate you will find the warm hospitality an...

Monkey Thorn Cottage
Situated in the exclusive Pebble Rock Golf Estate, Monkey Thorn Cottage is the perfect getaway for a couple wanting a break or for the corporate ...

Clubview Guest House
Clubview Guest House is situated in the quiet suburb of Clubview-East in Centurion. Clubview Guest House is an accredited bed & breakfast and sel...
Noteworthy attractions

Blue Valley Golf Estate
Named for the blue skies and open country of its surroundings, the Gary Player designed Blue Valley is a perfect blend of hospitality, sport and ...

Centurion Country Club
Centurion Golf Course is an excellent Golfing Estate with a very challenging golf course designed by Peter Matkovich. Two different nines, where ...

Zwartkop Country Club
The Zwartkop Country Club is situated on what was originally the farm Zwartkop named after the bird found nesting on the farm. It has long been a...

Leeuwkloof Valley Conservancy
The Leeuwkloof Valley Conservancy, a 400 hectare game reserve, is situated 1 hour from Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Pretoria. In the heart of...

Rietvlei Nature Reserve
The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is one of the world's largest urban nature reserves, 3 800 hectares in extent, situated south of the city but still w...

Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve
The Roodeplaat dam was constructed in 1956 and was initially called the 'Pienaars Rivier Dam'. The Dam supplied the surrounding landowners with i...

Cullinan Diamond Mine
Just twenty minutes' drive from Pretoria brings one to the quaint little town of Cullinan that time appears to have little affected. The Cullinan...

Tswaing Meteorite Crater Museum
One of only four meteorite crater museums in the world (the others are in the US, Germany and France) the Tswaing Crater and its museum lie rough...

Rust De Winter Nature Reserve
The pretty Rust de Winter Nature Reserve lies north east of Hammanskraal and close enough to the N1 and Pretoria to make a weekend of it. Places ...
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